Crito's failure to deliberate socratically

Hatzistavrou, Antony

Abstract

In comparison to the speech of the Laws the dialectic between Crito and Socrates at the beginning of the Crito has received little attention. In this paper I argue that it contains an important philosophical message. It illustrates that the many's failure to follow Socrates' principles, like his principle of non-retaliation, is due to the intrinsic fragility of true beliefs. Though the many can understand Socrates' values and may accept his principles if he argues with them long enough, they may fail to hold onto his principles when confronted with the difficulties of life. Crito's failure to deliberate socratically at the beginning of the Crito exemplifies the many's predicament.

Citation

Hatzistavrou, A. (2013). Crito's failure to deliberate socratically. Classical Quarterly, 63(2), 580-594. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838813000116

• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2013
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Classical quarterly
• Print ISSN: 0009-8388
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-6844
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 63
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 580-594
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838813000116
• Keywords: Philosophy; Classics; Literature and Literary Theory; History
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/464819
• Publisher URL: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9067401&fileId=S0009838813000116
• Additional Information: Copy of article first published in Classical quarterly, 2013, v.63, issue 2